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Dutch horses steal the limelight at the Hoppegarten racecourse

Jadey Pletrasiewicz and Phraseur Kosack

Berlin- Germany – Top Dutch lady jockey Jadey Pletrasiewicz made every step a winning one onboard Phraseur Kosack to land the seventh round of the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship IFAHR at the Hoppegarten Racecourse on Sunday evening, May 11.

“It’s a race to remember,” said the 30-year-old home care nurse. “I knew the Japanese lady was favourite to win the race with Athlete del Sol, but I was confident that it was my turn to book a dream lineup in the grand final of the competition in Abu Dhabi next November,” she added.

The race was held among high expectations that the Japanese professional jockey Mai Beppu will be hard to beat, but the run of the race came contrary to all speculations.

“I know the trainer Huub Otermans and she has told me that Phraseur Kosack is in his best form and would be suited with soft underfoot following the rain showers which hit the venue in the afternoon. Her instructions are to settle behind the early pace and put the horse on top gear at the home turn, and that what has happened. My mount showed his stamina and stayed on very strongly to lead by four lengths close home,” she added.

However, Pietrasiewic has joined hands with Otermans last year to land the Sheikh Zayed Cup ‘Listed’ at the same venue with Poulain Kossack.

Meanwhile, leading German jockey Eduardo Pedroza brought Valentin home in the Sheikh Zayed bin Sulytan Al Nahyan Listed Cup, the sixth event on the card.

Trained by JM Wolters at the Stall Lucky Stables in Holland, the five-year-old son of Amer was always going well before the rider said go to do all the work in the straight and prevails by more than three lengths on the line.

Eduardo Pedroza and Valentin

The two events were held under the directives of the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs as part of the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival.

The HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival is organised by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and coordinated by Abu Dhabi Sports Council in association with Emirates Racing Authority, IFAHR and Emirates Arabian Horse Society, supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs , the General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare with Arabtec Holding PJSC as the Official Partner and Emirates airline as the official carriers and sponsored by Invest AD, Tourism Development& amp; Investment Company (TDIC),  Al Rashid Investment, Al  Awani General Enterprises, Kabale, Al Wathba Centre, the UAE General Women Union, the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2014, Dr. Nader Saab Switzerland, Al Wathba Center, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Eastern Mangroves Suites-Abu Dhabi by Jannah, Abu Dhabi Sports Channel and Racing Post.

Jumaa Mubarak Al Junaibi, UAE ambassador to Germany praised the strong support which is received by the sports sector in the UAE saying that it underlines the keenness of the wise leadership of His Highness the President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and his brother His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice-President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai and General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces coupled with the role which is played by Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs to promote sports in general and Arabian horse races in particular.

“We are also obliged to HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Mother of the UAE, for her brilliant initiative. The staging of the seventh round of the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship (IFAHR) in Berlin is of great essence for the women sports in the world in general and within the UAE and the Arab world in particular,” he said.

Lara Sawaya, director of the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival and chairman of the Ladies Racing Committee in the International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authority (IFAHR) said: “Under the directives of HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan, we are delighted to return to this beautiful venue which attracts a big crowd to its well-organised events. The races of the festival are growing bigger and bigger with every move. Last time, we have attracted new lady jockies from South Korea and Morocco for the first time and now we have riders from Japan and Tunisia while plans are underway to have new lady jockey from India.”

Sawaya thanked the management of the Hoppegarten Racecourse noting that it’s one of the best venues around the globe to host the events of the festival which are receiving the respect and encouragement of the spectators.

“I would like also to thank all their excellences the ambassadors of the Arab countries who have joined us at the Hoppegarten,” she said.

The race was attended besides the UAE ambassador to Germany by Sheikh Hamdan bin Suroor Al Sharqi, Monther Al-Eissa, Kuwaiti ambassador, Dr. Mohammed Hejazi, Egyptian ambassador, Dr. Mazen Tal, Jordanian ambassador, Dr. Hussain Alkhateeb, Iraqi ambassador, Mona Kamel, Head of Mission of the League of Arab States, Aden Mohammed, ambassador of Djibouti and the Libyan and Moroccan ambassadors.

1 – Al Flaij, Oman: Irish lady jockey Evanna McCutcheon
2 – Caulfield, Australia: Alyson Deniel, UK
3 – St Moritz, Switzerland: Prod’Home Pauline, France
4 – Sam Houston Park, USA: Sandee D. Martin (USA).
5 – Casablanca-Anfa Racecourse, Morocco: Keumjoo Lee (South Korea)
6 – Toulouse Racecourse, France: Victoria Allers (Norway)
7 - Hoppegarten Racecourse, Germmany: Jadey Pletrasiewicz (Holland)

Source: HH SH Mansoor Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival
Photo: Morhaf Al Assaf